Novel Review Information Senior

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1 Title Author Educational Value Sensitive Content Alburquerque Rudolfo Anaya In his fifth novel, the best-selling author of Bless Me, Ultima sets an archetypal quest for the father in the city of "Alburquerque" (according to Anaya, the legendary spelling of the name), in which various characters vie for political power. Abran Gonzalez, a former Golden Gloves champion unaware that he was adopted, learns this secret from his biological mother on the night she dies. Other main characters also have murky ancestry; one Italian American even tries to prove that he was descended from the Duke of Albu(r)querque. At times melodramatic, the work has an intense spirituality that ultimately makes it mesmerizing. Religious Reference Multiculturalism Family Search of identity Sense of community The Bean Trees Barbara Kingsolver The Bean Trees explores the coming-of-age theme through the use of Taylor, a feisty, unique, strong female protagonist. In an attempt to escape a legacy of teen pregnancy and single parenthood, Taylor embarks on a road trip from Kentucky to Arizona. During her travels, she agrees to care for an abandoned Native American child. Taylor learns to love, nurture and reach out to others for help. The understanding and love she gains for Arizona continue to make this a novel that Gilbert students can connect to personally. Suggested Overcoming adversity Sense of family Love and nurturing

2 Brave New World Catcher in the Rye, The Aldous Huxley Novel Review Information Brave New World is a classic work of dystopian satire that raises questions about what it means to be a human being and serves as a warning about modern society. Set in a society saturated in pleasure and consumerism, individuals are detached and unable to think for themselves. Huxley attempts to question the inability of the main character to reconcile his beliefs with the beliefs of society, which ultimately leads to the character s demise.the author s use of advanced vocabulary and complex themes lead to deep discussion of what it means to be a human being and challenges of living within a society whose values do not match one s own. Dystopian Power Anti-totalitarian Education Science The dangers of technology Dangers of an all-powerful state Suffering Identity The consumer society Incompatibility of happiness and truth J. D Salinger The Catcher in the Rye is a coming-of-age book about a teenager trying find himself in a world of fakeness and consumerism. Set in post-world War II America, The Catcher in the Rye explores issues of alienation, isolation, and disillusionment. The difficulties transitioning from adolescence to adulthood

3 Ceremony Leslie Marmon Silko Ceremony focuses on the concept of how one adapts to a different culture and experience. Set in the Southwest during WWII, Teyo, one who has Navajo and Caucasian heritage, suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving in the war. After conventional treatment has failed to cure his ailment, he is encouraged to find an alternative way. The novel explores what it means to be a part of a certain culture and society, and what happens when these typical roles do not fit due to family heritage. In telling her story, Leslie Marmon Silko employs a non-linear structure incorporating Native American mythology. In addition, Silko combines poetic and lyric syntax while employing complex symbols. Destruction of culture; assimilation of culture The necessity of tradition Search for identity Cry the Beloved Country Alan Paton Cry the Beloved Country tells the heart-wrenching story of Zulu Reverend Stephen Kumalo as he attempts to save his family from the brink of destruction in Johannesburg, South Africa, a city with racial tension and injustice. This novel is noteworthy for its lyricism, characterization, and setting as it explores the moral and social implications of legalized racism in 1940 s South Africa. Family Racial prejudice Freedom and confinement Politics Power Cultural and economic divides

4 Cyrano de Bergerac Edmond Rostand Cyrano de Bergerac has been a popular French play since it premiered in Cyrano, known for his dueling skills and excessively long nose, is hopelessly in love with Roxane. Because of his looks, Cyrano is afraid to tell her how she feels; instead he pours out his heart by helping Christian woo Roxane. This is a classic romantic comedy that youth today still find enjoyable. None Self-acceptance Unrequited love Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller This Pulitzer prize winning play set in the middle of the 20th century focuses on the life of the common man. Willy Loman, a salesman, lives a life of daydreams and excuses that endanger the very fabric of those closest to him. His past and present coincide as he makes a desperate attempt to come to terms with himself and the realities of the meaning of his own life and the ones he loves. This play is presented often in conjunction with the 1984 Broadway production as a means of character analysis and the realistic connection of family perception and values as they relate to students own coming of age and parent/child relationships. Aging Regrets The American Dream Family relationships

5 Ender s Game Orson Scott Card Ender's Game is an iconic, must-read sci-fi novel that often appeals to those who may not believe they enjoy science fiction. It is mesmerizing and emotional. The violence is at times quite brutal and disturbing which generates questions regarding the end justifying the means. The author s use of child protagonists provides relatable characters. His use of video games also creates a frame of reference that is more relevant today than when it was written. It is first and foremost a tale of a young boy struggling to grow up and make choices he can live with. Leadership Self-sacrifice Search for identity Moral choices Empathy Farewell to Arms Ernest Hemingway This tragic love story is arguably the best American World War I novel. A Farewell to Arms is the love story of an American ambulance driver on the Italian front and a beautiful English nurse. This novel is set against a social and political backdrop that captures the harsh realities of war and the pain of lovers profoundly affected by it. The tragedy of this novel, much like Romeo and Juliet, is that their love cannot last in this world. Reading Farewell to Arms c hallenges students to identify and understand symbolism in a relatively simple, classic tale. War Heroism Self -preservation Loyalty Moral judgement

6 Fifty Short Science Fiction Tales Misc. Authors Edited by Isaac Asimov & Groff Conklin This compilation provides students a diverse group of science fiction stories. These stories challenge the reader to examine the writers ability to create believable backgrounds, settings, and scenarios in a very short format. Fifty Short Science Fiction Tales allows readers to analyze the craft of masters of the science fiction genre. These short stories can also be beneficial in capturing the attention of reluctant readers. Science None Discovery/Exploration The unknown Technology Fixer, The Bernard Malamud The Fixer, the winner of the 1967 National Book Award for Fiction and the 1967 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, is Malamud s fictionalized version of the Beilis case. Beilis was a young Jewish man falsely imprisoned in Tsarist Russia. Mature Themes Set in Kiev in 1911 during a period of heightened anti-semitism, Yakov Bok, a Jewish handyman is falsely arrested and imprisoned for the brutal murder of a young Russian boy. However, Bok refuses to confess to a crime that he did not commit. During his time in prison, Bok has time to reflect on his life, religion, politics, and forgiveness. This novel allows students to reflect on both universal and personal themes. The story of Bok's struggle in an atmosphere of hate is universally applicable to that of any victim of a miscarriage of justice and mob prejudice. Mob prejudice Forgiveness Personal growth

7 Frankenstein Mary Shelley In this historic novel, a young man, Victor Frankenstein, becomes with the galvanistic concept of re-animating the dead into the living. His creation, however, is horrific in his eyes; therefore, Frankenstein immediately rejects it Then, when the creature is denied any sort of companionship, human or otherwise, it seeks to destroy its maker and all he holds dear. Frankenstein has become the world s most famous work of horror fiction. Mature Themes This novel is used as a means of not only discussion of classic literature but as a stepping stone to the discussion/written commentary of more contemporary concepts. Medically prolonging life Stem cell research Parental roles -- particularly a father s obligation Scientific discovery I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou This novel provides a better understanding of African American injustice and its long-term impact. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings deals with bigotry, life changes and a longing for parental nurturing and guidance. In this first of five volumes of autobiography, Maya Angelou learns about the hardships of life when she is sent at a young age to live with her grandmother. However, she also learns to see the beauty in everything, and as her life journey progresses, Agelou gains a strength and intelligence that is rarely seen in girls her age. Slavery Destruction of identity Racism as an obstacle to individual identity

8 Lord of the Flies William Golding Lord of The Flies is a coming-of-age story about a group of boys marooned on an island without adult guidance. Although at first it seems like an exciting, fun adventure, the reality of life on the island becomes a deadly struggle for power and survival. As former rules of behavior deteriorate, dark, primitive actions gain dominance as the boys struggle to find their individual moral identity. Lord of the Flies is an allegory that could be construed to have a variety of meanings -- inherent evil of man, human nature, war. Students reading this book have an opportunity to explore any or all of the options. The symbolism of this novel allows each student to gain experience in deep reading and analysis while making current, relevant personal connections. Metaphor for a larger world Choice and consequences Good versus evil Creating/Finding true identity Savagery versus civilization Leadership versus abuse of power Loss of innocence Man s Search for Meaning Victor Frankl Man s Search for Meaning is deeply moving essay dealing with Frankl s psychological and philosophical observations during his imprisonment in the Nazi concentration camps. This novel powerfully details the struggle to find meaning and purpose in suffering, particularly during stressful times. The second part of this book describes Logotherapy, the psychotherapeutic method developed by Frankl. Often listed as one of the most influential books in America, Man s Search for Meaning also encourages the reader to find a very personal opportunity for reflection and self-understanding. The varied levels of meaning provide a different experience for every reader. History of Holocaust Meaning of life Existentialism Personal reflection

9 One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Set in a Stalinistic labor camp in 1951, Ivan Denisovich Shukhov, a criminal/prisoner in Camp HQ, endures unjust punshiments meant to destroy his humanity. His only crime, which was manufactured, was that he was a spy. Readers are given a moment by moment account of many of the injustices he and his campmates endure, as well as moments of humanity being demonstrated between themselves and their captors that gives some of them ability to refuse to submit to the abuse. Struggle for dignity Faith Unjust punishment Picture of Dorian Gray, The Oscar Wilde The Picture of Dorian Gray is a complex novel about a young man entering and discovering the Victorian world around him. Through outside influences he becomes self-involved and extremely narcissistic. As he takes advantage of those around him, a beautiful portrait of him starts to decay. In the end, he realizes his mistakes, slashes the portrait, and all his sins are returned on to him, turning him into a hideous and unrecognizable creature. Wilde uses extremely elaborate language in his description of characters and setting. The use of allegory and metaphor is used throughout this complex text. Good versus evil, morality and ethics Art and culture Mortality Youth

10 Siddhartha Herman Hesse Siddhartha offers students a picture into the world of the discovery of the meaning of life through exploration of the Buddhist faith. Siddhartha emphasizes the concept of all forms of life are interconnected and that connection will help one to understand the meaning of life. The educational value of Siddhartha is that students will examine the ideas of enlightenment by following Siddhartha through his coming of age. Enlightenment Guidance Wisdom Love Polar Opposites Coming of Age Stranger, The Albert Camus The Stranger is a French novel by Nobel prize winning author Albert Camus which primarily explores existentialist ideas based in contemporary perspectives. The protagonist, an aimless young Algerian named Meursalt gets involved with a local pimp and through a series of events ends up killing a man. The ensuing trial focuses less on his actual crime and more on trivial events that illuminate Meursalt s lack of character. Mature Themes The fact that this novel deals with current themes based on varying perspectives of existence supports thematic writing in which students can express and justify their own ideas of existence. Existentialism/Modern thought Literary analysis -- particularly imagery and symbolism

11 Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights offers a depiction of life during Victorian England and the struggle with social class. The jealousy, vengefulness, and poverty permeated the lives of the haves versus the have-nots, making most of the characters loathsome. The educational value of Wuthering Heights is that students will compare the conflicts of the characters, and how their actions affect not only themselves, but generations to follow George Orwell Jealousy Vengefulness Social class Conflict Historical context Enslavement 1984 offers a representation of a world in which personal freedom is non-existent, government control is the norm, and humanity lives in a totalitarian society. The dystopian future is monitored constantly by technology. The educational value in 1984 is students will contrast and evaluate the dangers of a totalitarian society. Dystopian Anti-totalitarian Technology Historical context

12 King Lear William Shakespeare King Lear decides to retire and divide his kingdom equally amongst his three daughters. The result of this fatal decision leads to a plot and subplots full of greed, loyalty/disloyalty, sanity/insanity and the exploration of the human psyche. Mature Themes Family Loyalty/Betrayal Insanity Greed Hamlet William Shakespeare Hamlet is a very complex play about the responsibilities that come with the knowledge that an injustice has occurred. Shakespeare takes the one-dimensional parameters of the archetypal role of the hero and female characters and expands them into some of the most complex characters found in literature. Hamlet continually contemplates life and death; he becomes obsessed with his mother, his uncle, and his father s death to the point where his sanity becomes questioned. The play, and Hamlet, are so ambiguous and complex that students will learn that there is more than one way to look at literature. Mature Themes Madness Revenge Mortality Religion Gender Family